OSHA Inspection: WICHITA BRASS & ALUMINUM FOUNDRY, INC.

Issued

Mar 5, 2009

Abate by

Apr 30, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not furnish
employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized
hazards that were
causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in
that employees were
exposed to fire hazards:
a)Employees working in the Shell Core Room were exposed to fire hazards in
that
the pallets of magnesium ingots were stored too close together.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is store the magnesium pallets at least 10 feet apart.  NFPA
484
Chapter 7, section 7.7.1.2.4.  "Aisle widths shall be at least one-half
the height
of the piles and shall be at least 3.1 m (10 ft.)".
b)Employees working in the grinding room were exposed to fire hazards in
that
the
magnesium dust and shavings from the grinding tasks were stored in a
plastic
barrel.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to store the magnesium dust and shavings in a metal barrel
with a
lid.   NFPA 484, Chapter 7, section 7.7.5.3.1.  "Scraps shall be kept in
covered
steel or other non-combustible containers and shall be kept in such a
manner or
locations that they will not become wet".
c)Employees working in the grinding room and foundry were exposed to fire
hazards in that the employer was storing, approximately 20, 55 gallon
plastic
barrels of magnesium dust and shavings outside of the grinding room and
foundry
with no covers to prevent water from getting inside the barrels.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to store the magnesium fines in metal barrels with lids.
NFPA 484,
Chapter 7 section 7.7.5.3.2. "Outside storage of magnesium fines shall be
permitted if such storage is separated from buildings or personnel and
great care
is exercised to prevent the fines from becoming wet".
29 CFR 1903.19(d)(1) requires certification and documentation that the
abatement of the
above violation is completed.

Issued

Mar 5, 2009

Abate by

Jan 13, 2009

Penalty

Initial $382 · Current $191 Reduced

Issued

Mar 5, 2009

Abate by

Apr 8, 2009

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $225 Reduced

Issued

Mar 5, 2009

Abate by

Jan 13, 2009

Penalty

Initial $382 · Current $191 Reduced

Issued

Mar 5, 2009

Abate by

Jan 13, 2009

Penalty

Initial $382 · Current $191 Reduced